Compare towns
Reading vs Waterville vs Cavendish vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Reading | Waterville | Cavendish | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
680Lowest |
1,242Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Waterville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.